Posted on Apr 11, 2019
What is the longest break in service that you ever heard of?
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I was transferred to Non-Active Reserve status on 5 DEC 91, and enlisted in the Air National Guard on 5 APR 2003. I'm sure that some of you have had, or have known someone with, longer breaks than that.
Posted in these groups: 
Military service
Prior Service
Military service Prior Service
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 24
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Col John Madison
TSgt Carl Johnson - I was 54 when I did a year in Afghanistan, and at times those mountains zapped my endurance quite a bit. I was enlisted during late Vietnam. '71
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TSgt Carl Johnson I had 18 years and 4 months between 24 Apr 2000 to 24 Sept 2018 for my break. Oddly enough, the day I re-enlisted in the MO Air Guard would have been the day after I could've retired at 20 years if I had not received a medical discharge in 2000...lol!
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SSgt (Join to see)
TSgt Carl Johnson CMSgt Rickey Denicke, Sr. I'm the oldest E3 EVER!!! LOL. I need to get one of those Senior A1C of the Air Force morale patches for when we transition to OCPs at my unit..LOL
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My break was 5.5 years. The longest that I knew of was two Soldiers (one a SGT and the other a LTC), in my very first Reserve unit in 1993 had served in/during the Vietnam War.
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There was a Ranger in my RASP class in 2015 who had gotten out in 2001 or 2002 and had been trying to get back in to rejoin Batt ever since.
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Mr brother... William Eugene May Jr.... from USMC in mid 1970...until about mid 1985...into the USA... RIP 12/13/2018...
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Fighting Joe Wheeler resigned from the US Army in early 1861, and in January 1898 he resigned his seat in congress to become a Maj. Gen of volunteers for the Cuba campaign (the Rough Riders were in his division). During his 37 year break in service he achieved the rank of Lt. Gen. in the CSA army.
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I had a break of 8 years from 1974 after serving 8 years and started again in 1981 for a total of 22 years.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
TSgt Carl Johnson - I also had a career as a Civilian police Officer and retired from that as well.
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TSgt Carl Johnson
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - guess you saw that I spent 14 1/2 years as an officer. I suppose I could have stuck it out until retirement, but I don't think my marriage would have survived it.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
TSgt Carl Johnson - I had no grief from my Wife and two of Her sisters married Police Officers the other had married a MA State Corrections Officer. my Wife and I have been married now Forty three years. 14.5 years is a lot to invest, I did make My 20 years plus. In Massachusetts also in addition I was credited with Four more years for the Military service that added onto my Police Retirement. The Massachusetts General laws provide for that for up to Four years extra credit on the retirement for Police Officers.
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TSGT: That is a great question. I have two examples. First, I knew a lieutenant on the California Highway Patrol. He was a former Marine lieutenant and had a break of service for about 25 or so years. After 9/11 he wanted to serve again. He applied for a Marine commission but it was taking a long time so he went into a USAFR engineer unit as a SSG. The commission finally came through, he accepted it, and he served as an adjutant in a USMCR unit that deployed to Iraq. We were there at the same time. Coincidentally, the commander of that unit was a local and friend (another great Marine). He was reportedly the oldest 1LT in the USMC or USMCR. Secondly, when I was a 2LT in the CARNG (Platoon Leader) we had a highly-decorated Marine veteran of the Korean War join. He joined us as a buck sergeant after about a 20+ year break. He was much older than most but he was a walking tactical manual and he was a great warrior and leader. He probably forgot more than I knew. My Marine buddy on the CHP later made chief on the CHP and he eventually made major in the USMCR. He was later the commander of the unit one of my grandsons served in with the USMCR. Old warriors sometimes have a lot to offer the service. Thank you for your service TSGT! COL L
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TSgt Carl Johnson
Thank you for your service, sir! And thanks for sharing that, you are quite right.
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